Seattle police say this is the realistic-looking pellet gun found on the man who they believed to be armed and who was shot and killed Tuesday night in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood. (Photo: SPD)

Seattle police say this is the realistic-looking pellet gun found on the man who they believed to be armed and who was shot and killed Tuesday night in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood. (Photo: SPD)

SEATTLE — A 36-year-old man who led state troopers on a high-speed chase from Tacoma to Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood was shot and killed by a Seattle police officer late Tuesday night after he said “I have a pistol, too” and then pointed a weapon, the department said. The “weapon” turned out to be a realistic-looking pellet gun.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man as Austin J. Derby and listed his cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds.

The Seattle Police Department said that Derby, after leading the Washington State Patrol on the chase from Tacoma, ditched his truck and ran through yards in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. There, he hid inside a shed, and warned approaching officers, “I’ve got a pistol, too,” SPD said.

Here is the audio released by the Seattle Police Department in which the man can be heard saying, “I have a pistol, too.” This audio also includes a 911 call from a Beacon Hill neighbor telling police that there is a man in their garage.

After Derby refused to step out from inside the shed into the darkened yard of a home in the 6400 block of S. Eddy Street, police officers saw the suspect holding what they believed—and he had told them—was a handgun.

“The suspect pointed the gun at police, and one officer—a 6-year veteran—opened fire, fatally striking the suspect. Police were then able to recover the man’s weapon, which turned out to be a realistic-looking pellet gun,” the SPD said on its online blotter.

The officer who fatally shot Derby has been placed on paid administrative leave, as per standard department policy.

Police have not yet determined why Derby fled from state troopers, but have learned he was wanted on felony and misdemeanor warrants for failing to appear in court for forgery and drug charges, the SPD said.

A woman who was in Derby’s truck during the high-speed freeway chase was taken to Harborview Medical Center with minor injuries sustained during the pursuit. She was later released from the hospital and is not considered a suspect in the case.

A WSP infrared camera-equipped plane, Smokey 3, also captured footage of the chase and lengthy search for the suspect, as WSP troopers, and SPD patrol and K9 officers combed the neighborhood. See below:

12 comments

AndyBlue

Yeah… And a Seattle cops version of events should be accepted. They are carrying guns in their cars to plant on people they kill just like our screwed up soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan did over and Over and OVER.

Ted

Joe Camel

It used to be a bullet would save the tax payer some taxes in supporting the judical system, but now with every shooting even if it is clear as day suicide by cop the savings is null due to internal and external reviews.

Kit

TheAmerican2014

Good shooting. There is no way that a person pointing a gun at a cop should not be shot. End of story. In cases like that, the police have zero choice. Its either the cops life and other innocent people around, or the criminal's life. Good job cops.

Jax Margeson

he was a really good guy that was killed…you people are so quick to read and comment what you ASSUME by this report.. if you knew Austin you'd know he's a father of twin pre-teen girls. a sweetheart of a guy, always looks out for everyone around him, sure he is a an ex con but thats his past..it wasn't his forever identity. He was my ex boyfriend and I was with him the day this happened and it is devastating to those who loved him and will miss him dearly.

get real

Seriously??? A good guy??? Get real lady. Anyone who feels the need to take the police on a Hogg died chase is not a ‘good guy’. It means he was guilty of something. Drugs, warrents, possession of stolen property, etc. Someone who puts other lives in danger because they do not want to get caught is not a good person. Period. They are a selfish piece of shit and detrimental to society. The fact that he had a pellet gun with the safety orange tip cut off, shows that he was using the gun for the effect of a REAL gun. Good people, don’t need to run from the cops, they don’t steal, they don’t take off on a high speed chase. Good people are party of society, they work for a living, they follow the rules and take care of families. So pardon me but, fuck you and this guy. He knew exactly what the outcome would be and points that gun anyway. Great guy.